House forges name bond

Legislator James P.K. Sangma of the NPP today delivered this line in the Assembly, but not apologetically, as one may have expected from a namesake of the legendary Ian Fleming sleuth.

Known for his animated style of debating in the Meghalaya Assembly, Jamestoday likened Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma to James Bond for allegedly having women police personnel surround him in strife-torn Garo Hills.

James told the House that he was surprised when he saw the chief minister being surrounded by women police personnel, who had formed the ring around him during the parliamentary polls. Taking a swipe at the chief minister, he said, “I thought my name was James, but I think the title James Bond should go to the chief minister for having women police surrounding him.”

Taking part in the general discussion on the budget on the second day of the reassembled budget session, James took a dig at the government by stating that there was no seriousness in tackling the law and order problem in Meghalaya.

“There is no mention in the budget speech about the plan outlay for 2014-15. This shows the lack of seriousness of the government to tackle the law and order problem in the state,” he said.

Referring to the chief minister’s budget speech, he said, “It makes sense to spend more on the maintenance of law and order so that development can take place. But does this means that the government needs to spend more on the chief minister’s security? At least 200 police personnel were deployed along the route where the chief minister and his cavalcade had to pass through in Garo Hills.”

He said there was never a mention on how militancy could be tackled in the state.

HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit insisted that the government come clean on the allegation of a nexus between politicians and militants.

“If the allegation is true, we as politicians have to hang our heads in shame. The government should unearth the truth whether the charge on the politician-militant nexus is true,” he added.

Leader of the Opposition and UDP legislator Donkupar Roy stressed the need to gain public support in the fight against militancy. He also said that it was important to modernise the police force.